I've written many blogs specifically for the Grand Prairie, TX area as well as the Arlington, TX area. We specialize in listing homes and are the best Remax near you.

Recently I had the opportunity to tour the newly built subdivision of the Lake Shore Village Townhomes. As I was touring these properties and speaking with the salespeople, I could not help but notice the beauty and attention to detail that went into the construction. One of the few drawbacks I noticed was the lack of additional parking, so the community was definitely not designed for entertainers. Here are a few key points:

The price point, while people may not be familiar with townhomes that are ranging from the $280’s into the mid $300’s, these particular homes are priced that way to reflect the location and amenities provided.

The amenities, included with the HOA are a community center and a heated pool, which is in the process of being remodeled at the moment.

The location, being situated between the Mira Lagos and Grand Peninsula subdivisions, these homes offer the convenience of close proximity to Joe Pool Lake and shopping centers just across the bridge. All the perks of living in this area without the hassle of upkeep that the larger properties bring with them.

One thing I have to talk about is the parking situation that comes with living in this area. If you are fan of having big events, you may want to reconsider this area, as there is a limited amount of parking and no overnight parking allowed for guests. Now there are the two garage spaces for your personal vehicles, sleepovers are definitely frowned upon.

Now that we have outlined some of the key features here, you should also take into consideration that this community is not necessarily for children. The area itself does not have very much room to roam and play. In my opinion this community is most well suited for young professionals seeking a low maintenance lifestyle.

-Written by Manny Martinez with the Garcia team at Remax. Manny is a Military Veteran and works as a licensed Texas Realtor

Chances are you have the perfect home in mind. You’ve spent countless hours searching through listings and now have built an idea of what you want in your next home. You know that you want Mansfield schools, but close to the highways. You know you want an open concept and no popcorn ceilings. Some people would call you picky, but we say you know exactly what you want. That’s a great thing! It’s also okay if that idea evolves.

I often give our clients a little speech about not settling for something that doesn’t give them that warm and fuzzy feeling. If you need to convince yourself that a house can work for you, chances ae you won’t be happy with your choice. You really need to love the home and see yourself in it for at least a few years. Only make offers on homes they love. You would be surprised how many people get tired of looking for the right home and start making offers on houses they don’t absolutely love. Guess what? Sometimes their offer gets accepted.

Use a top real estate agent

The biggest mistake you can make is to use an agent that doesn't sell many properties. Trust me, you will have tons of questions about the process and you need to be sure that your agent knows the answers or at least can find out quickly.

You want an agent that has his/her pulse on the market. If they don’t know what’s happening in the market they don't know what kind of offer to write on your behalf. That can be the difference between getting the house and not getting it. A more seasoned agent will be able to help you navigate through the process and explain the ins and outs of the current housing market.

This is probably the most repeated question Realtors ask, “have you been pre-qualified”?

To be completely transparent, most agents ask this question so they know if they are wasting their time with an unqualified buyer. I guess I can understand this at some level, but it can almost sound offensive to most buyers.

The reason we try to ask if you’ve been pre-qualified is because there are a lot of moving parts to the home buying process and we want you to be super informed. Many people can’t buy because they don’t have the closing costs. If you were to speak with a high-quality lender, you would find out that you can possibly use your 401K funds.

On the other hand, you might have a small issue that you don’t even know about that could prevent you from buying unless you take care of it first. I’ve had a few situations come up on a client’s credit report that came as a surprise. In this case the buyer had to provide proof that it was fraudulent. In the end, he got his home and was glad he knew about the issue before he was in a contract. That would have been bad.

Meet with a Local Realtor near you

Meeting face to face with the agent you might be working with is very important since you will be working together on arguably the biggest deal most people make. Local is important when you stop and think about the details your agent may be able to share with you about the area. Also, you need to work with somebody that you actually like. Imagine being stuck with working with someone you don’t like or trust. How horrible is that?

When I first started in this business I knew I wanted to work and serve Grand Prairie, Arlington and Fort Worth as a local Realtor. It’s worked out well and my clients appreciate the fact that I’m close by. Our main office is in Grand Prairie and we also have locations in Arlington and Fort Worth.

What’s not to love about new construction? It’s brand stinking new! But seriously, the beauty of new construction is that if you buy a new home built from the ground up, you can pick the cabinets and flooring. How fun is that? From choosing the colors of the tile or carpet to choosing if you want subway tile on the backsplash, this is what most people live for with new construction.

Pro tip: If you want to be involved with the details such as design, you will need to build from “dirt”. Anything that has been started has also been planned out. That means it’s usually to late in the process to choose materials and styles.

You also should know that a lot of new builds under 300K usually don’t have options to pick from. They opt for a more of a “standard features” approach. Still very nice, but the designer in you might not agree. I bought a home like this a couple of years ago. The carpet was the one thing I wished I could have changed. The layout and size of the home sold it for us. We can live with the carpet a couple more years.

Incentives

You might not believe this, but there are a couple of new home builders in the DFW area that will run programs to help buyers qualify. That translates to great savings on your closing costs. I know of a certain builder that gives a $1000 credit to teachers and other heroes in the community. This is just one simple example of an incentive that a builder may offer. I’ve seen thousands of dollars of incentive applied to closing costs. Not every builder does this, but we have to ask.

The catch: Everything has a catch to it, am I right? In order to receive any incentives, the buyer has to use the builder’s preferred lender. I actually used the builder’s lender over my preferred lender when we purchased and it was a great deal.

Pro Tip: If you are skeptical about using an unfamiliar lender, ask them to give you a breakdown and compare it to a breakdown that your own lender can offer. With an “apples to apples” comparison, you’ll have it laid out for you.

Warranties

Most builders offer a warranty on a few basic items, while other builder have ten year warranties on foundation. It’s important to note that these warranties have stipulations that the buyer must adhere to. Some builders have a certain timeline for filing claims and if you aren’t a super detail-oriented person, those deadlines can come and go. That’s why it’s important to get have important date reminders set up to make any claims.

HOA’s

The most common question I get from people moving to DFW from out of state is “what do I get with the HOA?” It’s not really what you get, but more of what you don’t get to do.

HOA’s have restrictions in Texas. That’s a great thing if you consider that your neighbor might own his own trucking company and wants to park his semi in the driveway. You might laugh, but I’ve seen it firsthand.

Community pool

When you are considering a new home, you should ask about the community areas. Does it have a pool or a kids playground? You’re paying a lot of money for a new home and that’s a great incentive to buying in a community that is up and coming.

Wait time

Building can take from 6-10 months. Depending on what your timeframe is, this point could actually be a positive. Are you in a lease? Are you trying to sell another home? All this matters.

I had some clients that sold a home in Grand Prairie and bought a brand new house just a few miles away. The home took about 10 months to build and the purchase was contingent on the sale of their current home. We had to time it just right. Listing the home had to be within a very targeted timeframe. In this case it worked out just perfectly. Sometimes it means having to rent a temporary place to live. It’s inconvenient, but the benefits sometimes outweigh the issues.

Pro tip: If you buy something in the later stages you might not get to choose the color of the cabinets, but there is a silver lining. Your house will be ready sooner.

Constant construction

I bought a new home about two years ago and guess what…the builder is just now finishing up the subdivision. I hate to say it, especially since I want to sell you a brand new home, but it takes a while to complete a brand new building phase. The positive side: the incentives I mentioned. You can’t match those.

Balancing act

All in all, you will need to make your own list of pros and cons. I hope my list got you to think, but ultimately you will have to balance what you want vs. what you need.

If you need to move in quickly, you won’t get the luxury of picking details. You’ll be surprised how much a new home will impress you, especially if you’ve been checking out pre-owned homes.

Your home's design and online listings are an important part of selling your home quickly and for the highest price. We've helped many homeowners ( not only in Grand Prairie and Arlington) sell their homes at competitive prices, and we know a few tips and tricks to help your home stand out to potential buyers. Read on for 3 decor ideas to use when staging your home to sell.

Find appropriately sized furniture

First, make sure your rooms have the right size furniture. For example, a smaller kitchen will appear cramped if you have a bulky dining table, so stage your space accordingly. On the other hand, people touring your house may feel lost in a huge living room with small furniture, so make sure you define your space with furniture that makes your rooms stand out.

Clean the clutter

This point is huge! I can't stress it enough. Nothing is more distracting in an online listing than your old magazines thrown across the family room, or your child's teddy bear collection taking up half their bedroom. If possible, move your personal items to a storage unit before you put your house on the market. Not only will your home look cleaner and organized, but potential clients may have an easier time picturing themselves in your home.

Add light and nature

For the best photos and tours, make your home appear as light and bright as possible. Open the windows, pull back the curtains, or bring in a couple large plants to bring the outside in. Not only will your house appear bigger, but buyers will have a better experience when touring your home. This is exactly what new home builders have been doing for years!

Contact us

Decorating tips can seem like a dime-a-dozen when you are trying to figure out what to do when selling your house. By working with an experienced real estate agent, they can point you in the right direction when it comes to designing your home to sell. Whether you need just a few small furniture changes, or are interested in a staging consultation, we can help make the best recommendations to fit your needs and budget.

The Garcia Team at Remax in Grand Prairie, has the experience, marketing savvy, listening skills and passion that can help you sell your home, fast. Contact us today to learn more!

Sounds like a no-brainer, but it starts with the first phone call. Did they answer or even call you back? Believe it or not, this is a good indicator or how the transaction will go. I’ve earned business by answering my phone and calling back. I recently went on a listing appointment where I was basically hired because I showed up. The other agent they were going to hire never showed. How crazy is that? I’m always perplexed by realtors that don’t answer or call back. The first lesson I teach new agents at Remax in Grand Prairie is to answer the phone (or call back)... but for real. It's important.

Stats

Most agents will provide you with a Comparative Market Analysis or CMA. Did you know that some agents use an auto-generated CMA? I really don’t get that. What I do is start with the direct area and work out from there. I actually take several hours to complete my analysis. In some cases there are a lot of factors to consider. Is it by a golf course? Does it have a pool? Has anything else similar sold recently? Grand Prairie is diverse. You need the best local numbers.

You really can’t compare a one story to a two-story home. Most agents would know that, but there are a few out there trying to get by without really knowing what they are doing when it comes to setting up a sales price for the home. That’s a huge mistake an t can cost you thousands.

Are they local?

Should you pick a local Realtor that’s near you? In the age of information, this question is arguable. Being a local realtor in GP, I think its super convenient to be able to tell a client about the new Ikea and the new Epic water park. I would assume that most people would prefer to work with somebody that has an office near the area they want to buy a sell a home.

This is exactly why I choose to work at Remax Pinnacle in Grand Prairie, because I wanted to stay local. Honestly, I didn’t want to have a two hour drive to list a property in an area that I really didn’t know much about.

Are they Friendly?

I learned that when you meet a jerk, they are usually accompanied by other jerks. It’s funny, but true. Think about that guy in high school that gave everybody a hard time. Wasn’t he always surrounded by others just like him? Things don’t really change much. I joke around and say that our industry has profession realtors and professional Real turds.

Trusting and actually liking the person that will sell your home is a must. If you find them abrasive, chances are others do also. You don’t want a combative situation when selling your Grand Prairie home.

Reviews

What are people saying about them? Nowadays most people research to get ahead of the game and pick somebody that matches their situation best. Please feel free to read our reviews and get an idea of who we are. Read our Reviews here

Conclusion

Picking a Listing Agent is kind of like buying a car. If you are in desperate need of a car, you’ll get the first one that runs. Listing your home is a big deal. It’s probably the biggest transaction that most people are involved in. Take your time and pick the best one. Call us!

So, I received three different requests to show homes the other day, and as I am scheduling them I notice they all have something in common. They were all in Grand Prairie communities, but under the Mansfield school district. Providing the best service to my clients is always at the top of my list, so I decided to compile a list of why this is such a popular area for growing families:

The Amenities: With new subdivisions popping up throughout the Mira Lagos and Grand Peninsula footprints, we are starting to see the demand for use of the community centers and pools. This comes as no surprise with most centers offering fitness classes, such as Zumba and yoga for a free or discounted rate.

Joe Pool Lake: Whether you are enjoying a day on the water fishing, having a visit to The Oasis, or lining up for the Holiday light festival, the proximity to the lake definitely has its advantages. Especially for growing families looking to make memories in such a sunny climate as Texas.

The Home Designs: Since these areas were quite competitive amongst builders, the consumer has seen the benefit with beautifully designed homes throughout the neighborhoods. This can easily be seen when walking down the immaculately kept paved trails and driving by the private ponds scattered throughout the subdivisions.

Schools: The schools in this area are often spoken about highly, with the proximity of the elementary put right in the middle of the subdivisions, it offers great convenience to parents of young children.

The Variety: There are many builders who were competing to get into this area, this left a large variety of different style and design of homes. Some of the builders include Drees Custom homes, Bloomfield, and First Texas Homes just to name a few. Another benefit to this is that there are many homes that vary in age. Despite what some may think, not all consumers are in a rush to buy new construction.

No matter how many times I sell a home in this area, it is always a delight to drive these neighborhoods and see the attention to detail. I have been keeping up with the new construction and am very excited as these new opportunities arise to serve these communities. Please click to search for home in this area

Written by: Manuel Martinez

Manuel is a top producing agent in Grand Prairie. He is an Army combat veteran, dedicated father and top rated Realtor.

What does it really take to sell your home quickly in Grand Prairie?

I guess the answer depends on why you have to sell it quickly. If you mean that you want to sell it because of impending foreclosure, then the answer is getting exposure to the right people...mainly investors. If you don't have a financial burden it is still possible to sell your home quickly. With the right marketing and flexibility of both the buyer and seller, we can obtain a win-win situation.

I had a house for sale a couple years ago in the 75050 area code that was a wreak. Unfortunately, the home was full of trash and super outdated.

In this case my recommendations were the following:

have the home emptied

have the home professionally cleaned

have the carpet shampooed

dump all the trash

This made all the difference once we took pictures and marketed to a list of investors, it sold in one day for top dollar. A neighbor had made a cash over for 40K less than what the seller actually got.

If your situation is different I can still help. I've sold home were people have to relocate fast or they have to sell because of a divorce. Those are tricky, but I've sold many. As long as as parties agree, it can happen smoothly.

In summary, every situation is different and should be looked at on a case by case basis. As long as the title is clear and the sales price is marketable, we can get it sold.

Before we know it we’ve run out of hours in a day! If you’re like me, chances are you’ve been too busy to take care of a few (or a lot of) things around the house.

As a Realtor in Grand Prairie, I wanted to come come with a good list of practical things the average homeowner could use. I searched high and low for some of the easiest, most time-saving maintenance hacks, tried them and compiled a list of my top 10 favorites!

1.Faucets

Recover that powerful pressure once again by finally getting rid of all the muck that it’s collected. Grab a plastic bag and pour some white vinegar inside of it enough to fully immerse your sink faucets or shower head. Wrap the bag around it with a rubber band and let it soak about 30 minutes. This will help remove those persistent mineral deposits. Just make sure that once you remove the bag you wipe it down as to not get any vinegar in your eyes or on your skin. We get pretty good water pressure in Grand Prairie, so if you have a pressure issue with more than one faucet, you might have a bigger issue that a plumber should look at.

2.Vent Hood Filters

Keeping up with the cleanliness of a vent hood filter can be a huge pain! Cut out some work by simply soaking it in the sink with some hot and soapy water and use a scrub brush to loosen the grime. Voilà!

3.Carpet Dents

Carpet dents seem like they last forever. One easy way to get rid of those dents is by laying a moist washcloth over the dent then steaming it with your clothing iron. This works on almost all carpet types. Side note: if you have carpet in the bathroom, you should consider stripping it out and adding tile floors. I see time in the bathroom more in the Arlington area, but I have seen a couple homes in South Grand Prairie with a well worn carpet in the bathroom.

4.Chipped Windows

This is one thing you definitely don’t want to go too long without replacing. To temporarily fill small chips, use a bit of clear nail polish on your window.

5.TLC for the HVAC

Extend the life of your heating and cooling system by cleaning the condensate drain line. Pour a solution of 1 cup bleach and 3 cups water down the tube every three months to keep it algae-free.

6.Ceiling Fans

The simplest yet most messy things to clean! To make cleaning easy, try using a pillow case. Cover each blade one at a time with a pillow case and wipe it towards you. This will keep all of the dust inside and keep you from covering your furniture or sheets in dust.

7.Stove Cleaning

An easy trick to save yourself from all of the hard scrubbing is to preheat your oven to 150°F. On the top rack, place a bowl of ammoniaand place a pot of boiling water. Your spine will thank you for this

8.Window Blinds

Your tongs are your greatest weapon when combating all the dust stuck on your blinds. Wrap a washcloth around each tip and secure them with a rubber band. Squeeze the tongs and trap the dust on your blinds on both sides. No more Swiffer Duster needed!

9.Crown Molding

Overcome those hard to reach places by tying a towel on the end of a long broom. A few minutes of this and you’re done. Cobwebs tend to lead the buyer to believe the whole home is a mess. Simple fix.

10.Dishwasher

Keep your dishwasher from collecting iron stains and lime deposits with lemon-flavored Kool-Aid. The citric acid will break all of that down.

Do yourself a favor and try some of these hacks out to save yourself time and money. Keep up the great work and Spring cleaning won’t have anything on you!

When I first arrived in the DFW area I tried hard to find cool things to do that wouldn't break the bank. It was 1998 and my internet skills were non-existent. Actually, the internet wasn't even close to what it is now. Geez, I printed off a Map every time I went somewhere. Here's a list of things I found throughout the last 20 years.

HikingCedar Ridge Preserve is by far one of the closest places around Grand Prairie. It's actually in the Cedar Hill/Dallas area. You'll have two trails to choose from. The long trail is a loop and have a couple of harder parts. It's a nice hike.

The short trail is well...short. I refused to take that hike for a couple of months. That was a big mistake. Once I finally decided to hike it, I realized I had misjudged. There was a small picturesque pond that will no doubt bring a sense that you are not in the metroplex anymore.

Best part...It's free! Well kind of. There is a small donation box at the trailhead you can drop a buck in. Closed on Monday. 7171 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75249

Coffee

The Brass Bean in Grand Prairie is an independently owed coffee shop with lots of style. They know coffee. I love supporting places like this. If you are looking for a shop that is not so mainstream, this is the spot. They serve sandwiches and occasionally have live music.

123 W Main St #112, Grand Prairie, TX 75050

I personally love the little town of Waxahachie. The people are kind and they like to have little festivals from time to time. One place that opened in 2018 is the White Rhino. It’s a very hip coffee shop that I know you’ll love. It’s snap dab in the middle of a residential area. The owner restored and modernized an old Victorian home and let me tell you…he outdid himself. There is also the original location in Cedar Hill and one inside of a church in Red Oak. I prefer the Waxahachie location. I included their website below:

The best taco spotOkay, Waxahachie has my heart. Mainly because of the little taco shop that could. Two Amigos started of in a tiny location with enough from for about 12 adults. They expanded a few years later and pretty much doubled their seating. Early in 2018, the owner of Two Amigos opened up a new location that was built from scratch. It’s the best Tex-Mex around. Seriously. You can trust me. You should trust me.

Two Amigos241 S. Monroe StreetWaxahachie, TX

Mountain Biking A great place to Mountain bike is Cedar Hill State Park. The switchbacks in the trails will have your heart pumping. I would say the trail at Cedar Hill is for beginners to Mid level riders. Cost is $7 for the day or you can get a yearly membership that gets you into any Texas state park. Call and check the trails beforehand. Especially after rain. 972-291-3900

Another great off road trail close to Grand Prairie is Bolder Park. The entrance is free, but make sure you have nothing of value in your vehicle. You basically park on the street and you park at your own risk. Don’t do this ride alone. Go with a friend and give yourself plenty of daylight. I would say the trails at Bolder are more mid-level to expert rides, although there is a beginner trail that you might choose to ride first.

So the Farmers Market in Grand Prairie isn't huge at all, but you should stop by and grab some fresh fruit and veggies. Once in a while they have live music from local artists. I stop by a couple times a year.

The Dallas farmers market is a little more time consuming. I always bring cash because not all the vendors have card readers. They have great indoor restaurant in the food court area and you always get a few free samples. Parking is not free, unless you park super far. Make sure you take a picture of your license plate, because you will need it to check in at the payment kiosk if you park at the main parking lot.

More to come

I'll be updating this list from time to time. I hope you find it useful. I also sell homes. I can help you buy or sell a home. You can sign up for a home search

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